Digital Pad Trouble (Not Technical)

[Jaken]

Hey all, I was wondering if any of you had trouble adapting to using a digital pad. I have recently bought a Wacom and I find that I am having a hard time drawing comfortably with it, since you can't see what you're drawing other than by looking up at your screen. Is this something that most people go through and they eventually get used to, or are there any tips that I can get to help? Thanks for any help you guys can give me.

[solorpower]

Hi Jaken,

To answer your question, it took me a while to get "used to" my Wacom, (I have an Intuos3 6x8..) This first time I used it, I put it back down. But then I realized that it was easier to "draw" with the stylus pen than using the mouse, and I got hooked on it quickly.

As far as looking up at the screen to see what you're drawing, there's no getting around that. Just keep doing it, and you will get into a new habit of drawing/painting with the tablet and looking at the screen. In time, you will acquire your own style of using the tablet. It took me a good 2 - 3 months before I got used to it, and now its like I have always used the tablet and it's great.

[Jaken]

Thanks a lot. That's definitely encouraging. Looks like I'll be sticking with it. I still wish I had a Cintiq though. ;)

[Grief]

when i draw in my sketchbook i rotate it constantly and keep my hand nearly stationary. with a tablet it doesnt quite work this same way because the image is 'fixed' on the monitor. so i'm throwing elbows and i feel like i'm exaggerating and acting as i draw with wild arm motions since i can't rotate the wacon in a similar fashion.

i also broke 3 nibs in the first week i had my tablet.... which ive never heard of anyone else accomplishing. snapped two of the damn things clean in in half. the other is that fake graphite textured one that can't handle any weight and i smashed it on accident. the nib with the spring is holding up better, its lasted a month so far.

i'm still not used to it. i wish it had a horizontal motion sensor that when i rotated it it would rotate the image simultaneously on the monitor. i'd pay double just for that feature.

[Kek]

Grief, though I have yet to break any nibs, I completely agree that a canvas rotating feature would be awsome. I think Painter has it, but I don't use that program.

[Jaken]

Yeah, I'm the same way. That's part of the problem with me being uncomfortable with it. I only have one nib... I hope I don't bust it.

[Quofalcon]

I just got my first tablet a couple days ago. I was already aware of the differences between using graphics tablets and a good ol' paper'n pencil... Looking up at the screen, while having your hand down where your eyes would've been felt freakishly odd. Alas I'm rather suprised how comfortable my hand-eye coordinations are already getting. It could be the fact that my attention and hands are 'seperated' and that somewhat causes a type of 'brain tease' persay. I dunno.

To Grief: Holy crap, man. Three nibs in a week? I didn't think that was possible! Be aware of the pressure you put on your stylus, there's no need to put too much as you would a normal pencil on paper. Maybe it was the nibs themselves?

My hand/arm still give signs of discomfort; slight twitching or shaking in the nerves. Just takes time and practice.